title: Spirocyclic lignans from Guaiacum (Zygophyllaceae) induce apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines.
abstract: We investigated the composition of extracts derived from Guaiacum spp. (Zygophyllaceae), a group of neotropical tree species with varied uses in Central and South American traditional medicine. Activity-guided fractionation of Guaiacum heartwood extracts led to the identification of four new spirocyclic lignans, named ramonanins A-D (1-4). The ramonanins exhibit cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell lines with an IC50 value of 18 μM and induce cell death via apoptotic mechanisms. The ramonanins are derived from four units of coniferyl alcohol and feature an unusual spirocyclic ring system.
authors.affiliation: Boyce Thompson Institute and Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chavez
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flanders
authors.forename: Eloy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Frank C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Schroeder
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D004293:Dominican Republic; D032441:Guaiacum / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017705:Lignans; D013141:Spiro Compounds